Learn About Online Slot Machines and Playing Online

Monthly Archives: September 2014

Slots have been around much longer than many people think, with the first primitive machines – which paid free drinks or cigarettes manually – having been invented here in the USA, in Brooklyn, in 1891. They have evolved and, over time, become more and more complex with the very latest online slots now resembling video games in the complexity of their graphics and storytelling. 3D and even 4D slots exist, both in real casinos and online, but perhaps the most recent advancement for those interested in playing slots is the rapid growth of mobile slots.

Whilst the online casinos that started in the 1990s allowed players to enjoy the thrill of the tumbling reels from their own homes, mobile slots mean that you can now play virtually anywhere, at any time and all from a pocket-sized device.

Playing slots on your cell is a great way to pass a spare moment when you are waiting for a buddy, collecting the kids from school or on your commute to work. Thanks to the amazing processing power of modern cell phones, the graphics, sound, gameplay and reliability of mobile slots are all first rate, and means that the online casino experience can be replicated on your phone, wherever you are.

Whilst access to a decent Wi-Fi connection may provide for a more stable gaming experience, playing on a good 3G or 4G connection is also generally very reliable. So, if you have a cell and you have access to the internet, all you need next is a good mobile slots site or casino at which to play.

There are more and more online casinos to choose from and increasingly most of the best sites will have a mobile version of their main site or a dedicated app, the latter usually only available for Android and IOS users. Accessing these is as simple as going to the URL on your mobile device or downloading the relevant application, and the gameplay is just like playing a regular online slot.

As phones get even more advanced, more and more people will be playing mobile slots so why not join the mobile gambling revolution and see why so many people are already enjoying playing their favorite slots on the move?

Online slots come in all shapes and sizes, from the classic three-reel slots with very little peripheral entertainment in the form of features, flashy graphics or soundtracks, to the latest video and 3D slots that pull out all the stops to bring you an all-encompassing gaming experience, complete with accompanying narrative, enthralling gameplay and a fair smattering of cool or cute characters to help you on your journey towards – hopefully – a big pile of cash.

Here we outline our top tips for those who want to play online slots to make money (as opposed to just gaining enjoyment from playing the games themselves). So read on, follow our advice and give yourself the best possible chance of making a fistful of dollars playing online slots.

Tip 1: Always know the payout percentage

While many casino games such as roulette, blackjack or baccarat have odds that are more or less set (subject to rule variations and bonuses), slots are far less formulaic in terms of the “house edge”. The profit margin built into a particular online slot depends solely on how it has been programmed, and while some online casinos will openly published the payout percentage of their games, you sometimes have to delve a little deeper to find out the information.

But dig away because the difference in the payout percentage from one slot to another could be as much as 10 or 15 percentage points. If you don’t know what the payout percentage is of the game you are playing you might well be wasting a LOT of money. So check with the customer support staff and if possible get a list of the payout ratios for all the slots they offer, picking the best one(s) to play on.

Tip 2: Make the most of welcome bonuses

There are so many online casinos out there vying for your business that it is no surprise they go to great lengths to attract you to their site. Almost all will offer some kind of welcome bonus which will invariably come as a 100% or 200% matched bonus based on the value of your first deposit. There are lots of variations with some casinos offering unlimited bonuses, some others thousands of dollars in free cash and other smaller amounts but with less stringent wagering requirements.

You should always check the terms and conditions because while almost all bonuses will require you to wager your bonus through a number of times, that number can differ vastly from a handful to 80 or more. If you pick the right welcome bonuses you will find you have a whole lot more cash to play with and hence a much-improved chance of winning.

Tip 3: Know what you’re spending

Finally, and this might seem like common sense, NEVER bet more than you can afford to lose and never chase losses in the hope of hitting a winning run. Decide how much you want to wager and stick to it, whether you win or lose.

Almost every single online casino and slots site offers some form of welcome bonus as an enticement to attract new customers and this is effectively one of the main marketing tactics of online casinos. Deciding which casino is the best one to pick isn’t always easy but here we take a look at the basic information you need to consider.

Is it a Reputable Casino?

The most important factor by far: is this a casino you can trust? Do they accept US players, can you make deposits easily and, most importantly of all, are the games fair and will your withdrawal request be processed? Don’t jump into a great bonus without remembering the old adage that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Are the Games Any Good?

Assuming you have decided this is a casino you can trust, the next major question is, will you enjoy playing there? A bonus is great but if the choice of slots and other games is poor, or the slots available have poor graphics, gameplay or sound, would you really want to play there? Casinos that use top software companies such as RTG can be trusted but with others it might be worth checking their demo mode – if available – to see what you think of the games before you decide to deposit.

Bonus to Total Wagering Ratio

An unlimited bonus might sound like a good deal, as might a 500% deposit bonus but the important thing to check when comparing the slots welcome bonus of one site with that from another is the bonus to total wagering requirement ratio, as this is the most accurate way to decide if a bonus may prove profitable. The key here is to assess the TOTAL wagering required, not the number of times you have to rollover any given amount.

If one casino offers a 100% up to $1,000 and has a wagering requirement of 30 times the bonus only, that means you have to wager $30,000. Another casino may have a similar bonus but only wagering of only 20 times, however, if that is 20 times the bonus AND deposit, the wagering required is actually much higher, at $40,000.

Other factors to consider are what games are eligible and how they contribute towards the wagering and how long you have to complete the rollover. In summary, take your time, read the terms of the offer and decide which casino and slots site will work best for you.

Slots are great fun and can offer some huge prizes but the amazingly rich, developed slots and progressive games you now find in Vegas and at top online casinos have come a long way since the early days of the first slot machines. Here we take a look at the history of slots and how they have developed over time.

Slots, slot machines, fruit machines (UK), pokies (Australia) – call them what you will, these games are loved the world over. The very first slot was created in good old Brooklyn though, way back in 1891. Whilst today players can win millions of dollars (the biggest ever win was almost $40m!), back then the poker-based slot devised by Sittman and Pitt would dish up a free beer, or perhaps a cigar, claimed at the bar!

Shortly after a simpler game called Liberty Bell, after one of the five symbols used, was created by a San Francisco man called Charles Fey and because it had fewer winning combinations automated payment was possible, with a top prize of 50c for three bells! That very first machine is now housed in the Nevada State Museum and for a long time the machines changed little, using a mechanical lever to spin three reels.

The early machines remained quite basic and were massively popular but in 1963 Bally created the first fully electromechanical slot, Money Honey, removing the need for the traditional side lever (the lever gives slots one of their other names, the “one-armed bandit”).

The next major breakthrough came in 1976, with the first ever video slot, using a modified 19 inch Sony TV! In the 1990s video slots moved forward even more with the addition of bonus rounds on a totally different screen and these were, in essence, the forerunners of modern slots that feature at online casinos and slots sites.

As computer technology and the internet have advanced games have become more and more detailed, with sensational graphics, brilliant sound, advanced features and bonuses and big movie tie-ins with blockbuster hits and cartoons. In bricks and mortar casinos and online, slots can now be linked to create huge progressive jackpots, firms offer 3D slots and evermore advanced, complex and enjoyable games.

Where slots will head next is anyone’s guess, perhaps 4D and virtual reality will feature, whilst jackpots are almost certain to continue to explode. Whatever happens, slots are here to stay and will be a lot more exciting than waiting for three bells, bar symbols or cherries!